After five murders in a matter of 10 months in 1968 and 1969, followed by numerous communications, 1971 was a watershed year for the Zodiac Killer. When all is said and done, it will probably be remembered as the year Zodiac tried to convince law enforcement he had committed four brutal stabbings, when in fact he had committed none. The Zodiac legacy was coming to an end and his final two communications in the latter half of 1971 failed to make the newspapers, ultimately marking the final days of the Zodiac Killer. He wouldn't be heard from again. When Paul Avery wrote the San Francisco Chronicle article 'New Evidence in Zodiac Killings' on November 16th 1970, it must have been a heavenly blessing for the Zodiac Killer. He was being linked to the Cheri Jo Bates murder in Riverside on October 30th 1966. He would gladly accept this offering on March 13th 1971 when he unashamedly wrote a letter stating "I do have to give them credit for stumbling across my riverside activity, but they are only finding the easy ones, there are a hell of a lot more down there". A man inspired to attack Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard with a knife at Lake Berryessa, driven by the front page coverage of the August 3rd 1969 Snoozy/Furlong murders in San Jose - something he yearned - not only laid claim to the murder of these two young girls in the November 8th 1969 'Dripping Pen' card, but was only too happy to claim another in Riverside.

​Then, just one month later, a gift arrived from the Vallejo Times-Herald on April 13th 1971, when the Zodiac Killer saw the words "One thing's certain, Miss Bilek's murder is almost a carbon copy of a double killing Santa Clara County" homicide detective said. "And all three could well be the work of the so-called Zodiac".

The Zodiac saw the publicity generated from the brutal stabbing of Deborah Furlong and Kathy Snoozy on August 3rd and capitalized on this at Lake Berryessa in September. It had now paid dividends on April 11th 1971, when Kathy Bilek (18) visited Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, having planned to read a paperback book (The Gabriel Hounds) and engage in a spot of bird watching​ in the seclusion of a remote, wooded portion of the park, near a small stream. Her body was found the next day by her father, Charles, while Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputies searched nearby. She had been stabbed 17 times in the back and 32 times in her chest and stomach. This crime was obviously linked to the Snoozy/Furlong murders because of the extensive knife wounds and the locality. But by committing the savage knife attack on Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard at Lake Berryessa and hinting at his involvement in the San Jose murders of Snoozy and Furlong, the Zodiac Killer had now been given the opportunity by Paul Avery to accept the Riverside murder in 1966, along with the Kathy Bilek murder by the Vallejo Times-Herald on April 13th 1971. His switching to a knife in the commission of murder would inevitably lead law enforcement to link him to more crimes - something he knew only too well.

The 'Monticello' card mailed on July 13th 1971 was open-ended. It didn't directly claim the murder of Kathy Bilek, thereby allowing him a get out clause should this crime be later attributed to somebody else. The Zodiac Killer had used this tactic before when he insinuated his involvement in the murder of Officer Richard Radetich by stating "I shot a man sitting in a parked car with a .38". Then in the 'Pines' card, by again offering a cryptic message open to interpretation. He never actually claimed the murder of Cheri Jo Bates, simply stating "I do have to give them credit for stumbling across my riverside activity". Everything designed in such a fashion to avoid full admission.

The "August" reference on the 'Dripping Pen' card, while not actually writing it on the car door of Bryan Hartnell's vehicle, had metaphorically opened the door to the speculation shown by law enforcement in the article by the Vallejo Times-Herald.The September 27th 1969 attack, effectively enabled the Zodiac Killer to extend his reign of terror far beyond the shores of Lake Berryessa, into the heart of San Jose. The July 13th 1971 'Monticello' card was now the fifth communication referencing San Jose in the last 20 months - but there was still time for one more.

The final communication of 1971 may have been the elusive 'Sacramento DMV' letter, probably mailed in the November or December of 1971. This correspondence likely mirrored the November 21st 1969 San Jose letter and code, in which the Zodiac Killer mailed a correspondence to the San Jose Police Department and threatened a "widow". I have little doubt this woman had some involvement in the Deborah Furlong and Kathy Snoozy murders from the perspective of an eyewitness, and by Zodiac threatening her, he was effectively giving the impression that the murders were somehow pertinent to him. The Sacramento DMV letter was used for the same purpose - to keep the Zodiac story alive by means of interjection. ​​

In October 1971, a magazine publication entitled 'True Detective' comprehensively featured the murders of Kathy Snoozy, Deborah Furlong and Kathy Bilek, and the subsequent arrest of Karl Francis Werner. There is every chance the Zodiac Killer read this magazine article, compelling him to continue his contact with authorities regarding these murders.

One particular section about Kathy Bilek caught my eye - that may have been the reason why the Zodiac Killer wrote a letter to the chairman of the DMV in Sacramento. It stated "At about the same moment, Park Ranger Ken Williamson was informing a member of the investigative team that he, too, had noticed a tall, bespectacled young man who had been a frequent visitor at Villa Montalvo. He was a loner and had impressed the Villa's ranger staff with his almost furtive conduct, said Williamson. The ranger had jotted down the license number of the strange youth's auto.The license number was forwarded to the California Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Sacramento, the state's capital 150 miles to the north of San Jose. The information teletyped back from the registration bureau was that the auto was the property of a Karl Francis Werner, living at an address on Shawnee Lane in San Jose."

This was the final entry point of the Zodiac Killer. The 'Monticello' card and 'Sacramento DMV' letter had failed to hit the newspapers - and the reign of the Zodiac Killer had reached its end. The arrest of Karl Francis Werner for the three murders in San Jose had finally exposed the Zodiac Killer for the fraud he had metamorphosed into. The long shadow he had cast over the Bay Area of Northern California was starting to recede - and he knew his days were numbered.

As you are suggesting,Richard,I find it compellingly persuasive that the Zodiac had made a note of Snoozy and Furlongs,as ones that he wish to persuade others,that were his,Zodiac's,doing.

This extends to the murder of Kathy Bilek,and subsequent known ''probable'' correspondences,in the Monticello Card and ''Z148''.

As soon as ''Berryessa'' was done and dusted,there seemed to be a side of the Zodiac,that wanted to pass himself off,as a ''bladesman'',probably with Jack the Ripper's notoriety,in mind.

But,may have more to do with,no longer owning a gun,than anything else [?].His ''last'' gun having been earmarked,for the ''use of'' the Presidio Heights ''project'',to kill a taxi driver.

A real question,I think,that needs to be asked is...as the Zodiac appeared to settle for ''terror by pen'',in 1970.....did he actually keep count of victims,that he lied about having been the perpetrator.

If we focus on ''victim accountability'',that were lies,from the Zodiac,then....

Snoozy and Furlong are '' 6th and 7th ''

And,Hood and Garcia are '' 9th and 10th '' [?] [ Feb.21st 1970 ]

With a choice of,perhaps,three victims,representing '' 8th '' [?].

Could be a start,on accounting,anyway.Erring on the side of knife attacks [?].Once Zodiac felt that he had ''imprinted'' this ''knifeman'' reputation,by persuasion,on the authorities,he could always throw in a bit of ''versatility'' again,at a later date.

Reply

Richard

4/4/2019 12:10:55 am

I took another look at the 'Bleeding Knife of Zodiac' drawing and there are actually only 7 drops of blood. The "d" of Zodiac I used to think was the eighth. This 7 lines up with the 7 from the Dripping Pen card, and neither Fairfield letter gave us a victim update. So, in theory, victim 8 should be December 17th, 18th or 19th. On December 19th Elaine Davis' body was discovered at Light House Point near Santa Cruz. She was discovered floating in the surf. The next day Zodiac mailed the Belli letter and stated "Help me I am drownding". Unfortunate choice of words or deliberate.

Good point,Richard....there is not much,to assess,really,on the choosing of the postcard,by a presumed Zodiac....apart from ''Sandy Beaches'',which ''might'' provide a link to the suspect,known only,as ''Sandy''.

So,everyone gets to see it,at Ricardo's ''project'' site,for now.

But,I'm pleased that your recent article on the Celebrity Cypher,has possibly re-awkened an interest in the puzzle,that I have good reasons to believe,has kick started the case,with intent,by the ''authorities'',in the last four years.

These are matters,may I add,that have gone beyond the scope of,and trust in,agencies like the VPD....who just continue to ''chug'' along,with one massive chip on their shoulder,for real failures,in the past.

As I have found....how many times,must Departments of Justice give provincial police forces,the opportunity to ''come good'' on serious crimes,related actually,only by the geographic proximity of those serious crimes [?].

For ''starters'',Riverside and Vallejo certainly messed up ''big time'',and the SFPD and Napa,''probably'' did,also.

So,one shouldn't be surprised to learn,therefore,that Zodiac ''affairs'',have been ''long'' taken away from them.And,any statements,to the contrary,is just ''hot air'' pride,from the provincial forces,concerned.

Even the CA DOJ,have been overuled,to an extent,by the US DOJ,over repeated failures,in the case,over the years.

I digress,to a degree....but really,Mr.Voigt's site is beginning to resemble ''toytown'' sluething....which is admittedly,an unfair observation,since there are some members,who contribute,with diligence and some real talent.

If I might take this opportunity,Richard,to say something nice,about Mr.Voigt's site [?].

Mr.Voigt's site has been responsible for making one of the great ''Zodiac influence'' discoveries of recent years.This being the influence of American Minimalist Artist,Carl Andre on the Zodiac.

Andre,first burst on to the scene of the art world,in 1966,when his exhibit ''Equivalence VIII'' was premiered at London's Tate Gallery.The exhibit,amounting to a neatly piled stack of bricks,certainly had everyone's tongue ''wagging''.

Now,why has no one,at Mr.Voigts site,taken this further....by perhaps,attempting to contact Mr.Andre,who is still alive.Or even,deconstructing Mr.Andre's work,to see if there is more,than meets the eye [?].

This not the sort of thing,that is actively encouraged,at Mr.Voigt's site.''Creative Sluething'',if you will.

Instead,one arrives at Mr.Voigt's site,being bombarded by myths,as a direct result of Mr.Voigt's tummy,having been tickled by a provincial detective,at Vallejo Police Department,who pretends to have his ear to the ground,on all the latest,with regard to the Zodiac case.

Time,I believe,for some fences to be mended,and a herd of over 3,000 prize cattle to be fed and nourished....and ''not'' to have their egos be stroked,falsely.

By,may I add,a ''Rancher'' who spends most of his time,running away from them,hanging out a local ranch,much better run,to trade insults and ''shoot the breeze''.

Surely,this ''Rancher'' is sending out the wrong signals,to his own herd,who simply want to be,as well turned out,as they can,and show themselves off,in the best light posible [?].

I am reminded,these days,by the joke about what makes ''Noddy'',a good detective,whenever I visit Mr.Voigt's site.Which is unfair,and ought ''not'' to be the case.

[ Answer : Because he has ''Big Ears'' to help him.]

Reply

BB

4/30/2019 09:32:28 am

Another real link the Cheri Josephine Bates case had to the Zodiac was pointed out by Gareth Sewell Penn in 1983.

Boise Cascade Corporation filed a building permit application with the Regional Planning Commission in Reno for construction of a condominium project called Incline Village Unit 6 at Lake Tahoe. The project is the same one shown on the Zodiac's postcard of 22 March 1971.

http://www.ecphorizer.com/EPS/site_page.php?page=582&issue=38
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A timetable here shows the dates of all the Zodiac events between 1968 and 1971.
The Riverside revelation was 15-March-71 then Incline Village card came 22-March-71.
A link between Bates Riverside area and the Lass Lake Tahoe area.
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Boise Cascade Corporation (Gareth Penn alludes - the Zodiac worked for this company)
Boise Cascade Building Materials is located close to RCC
7145 Arlington Ave, Riverside, CA 92503